Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Three-peating a theme (updated)

Three-peating a theme (updated)
Once again, I give you the three moments from tonight's game that jumped out at me, wrestled me to the ground and stole my wallet. 1. Vladimir Guerrero will swing at anything. If you roll the ball toward the visiting dugout, he'll get a piece of it to stay alive. He kept hacking away at Brian Matusz's pitches in the third inning, finally laid off a high fastball, then reached down and golfed a slider over the left field wall for a three-run homer. I kept waiting for him to check the tee...
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Roch Kubatko

Gonzo's going tonight

Gonzo's going tonight
Left-hander Michael Gonzalez pitched a scoreless eighth inning tonight at Double-A Bowie, relieving starter Chorye Spoone and allowing one hit, walking a batter and striking out one. Gonzalez came within a foul tip of a 1-2-3 inning. Trenton mounted a two-out rally, but Gonzalez escaped the jam. He's now the pitcher of record after the Baysox took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Gonzalez has made eight appearances on his injury rehab assignment, including three with the Baysox. He's...
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Roch Kubatko

Cliff notes (updated)

Cliff notes (updated)
Rain has delayed the start of the Orioles-Rangers game on the same night that Texas acquired left-hander Cliff Lee from the Mariners. It appears that the Orioles will face Lee tomorrow night. Good for them. The Mariners received a package from the Rangers that included first baseman Justin Smoak, part of the same draft class that brought Brian Matusz to the Orioles. Smoak traded. Matusz delayed. It means nothing, but I still felt compelled to write it. They're actually good friends, by...
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Roster moves coming

Roster moves coming
It won't surprise you to learn that the Orioles intend to call up Chris Tillman to make tomorrow night's start against the Rangers and option third baseman Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk. The moves will be made official tomorrow. Interim manager Juan Samuel will wait to make sure the Orioles don't sustain an injury that could change their plans for Bell. Samuel told reporters in Texas that Bell needs to get at-bats, and they'll come in the International League. Catcher Matt Wieters told...
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Roch Kubatko

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson DH Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Scott Moore 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Rangers: Elvis Andrus SS Michael Young 3B Ian Kinsler 2B Vladimir Guerrero DH Josh Hamilton CF Bengie Molina C Nelson Cruz RF David Murphy LF Joaquin Arias 1B Scott Feldman RHP
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Brian's song

Brian's song
Like many of you, I wondered why Craig Tatum batted in the eighth inning last night with the bases loaded and the game tied. Tatum drew a walk off Darren Oliver to force in the go-ahead run, but I still found it curious that Matt Wieters didn't pinch-hit for him. Interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters after the game that Wieters couldn't play because of some unspecified tightness. Now it makes sense. I'm sitting in my parents' living room in Ocean Pines, which seems appropriate with...
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Shouldering the blame

Shouldering the blame
Well, it took almost an hour, but I'm finally able to write this blog entry. I knew that my wireless card and laptop would eventually allow me to get some work done. Thanks to both. I'm heading to Ocean Pines later this morning - and much later than I anticipated because of my internet issues - and I plan on pulling over my car and hurling this Verizon card and ThinkPad into the bay. I'll pay the fine. I also woke up with an inexplicable hatred of the Miami Heat. Go figure. If you feel a...
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Pie's impact (updated)

Pie's impact (updated)
Starting in left field again tonight, Felix Pie launched a ball into the second deck in the seventh inning to reduce Texas' lead to 4-2. Pie had two hits and an RBI on Tuesday. He tripled last night and homered tonight. I'm not putting him in the Hall of Fame, but he's hard to miss. Pie has collected hits in eight of his 11 starts this season. He's totaled 11 hits in his last eight games. That's an interesting symmetry. Too bad there was such a large gap after his eighth game. I...
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Do you see what I see?

Do you see what I see?
Once again, I give you three moments from tonight's game that jumped out at me and almost knocked me over. 1. Jeremy Guthrie has been high and tight to Vladimir Guerrero in three at-bats, and Guerrero looks like he's contemplating a trip to the mound. As I noted earlier today, Guerrero was 1-for-17 lifetime against Guthrie before tonight, so I'm not sure exactly what's going on, but it's getting a little tense. My guess would be that Guthrie is wild, because he's buzzed a few other...
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Pending moves

Pending moves
I just spoke with Mark Viviano, who's handling the sideline duties for MASN in this series. Interim manager Juan Samuel confirmed that Saturday's starter will come from the minors. The Orioles considered left-hander Mark Hendrickson before deciding on a call-up. Samuel didn't mention Chris Tillman by name, but he's expected to take the ball for the Orioles. It's also assumed that third baseman Josh Bell will be optioned to make room for Tillman, though that move hasn't been confirmed,...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson DH Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Scott Moore 2B Julio Lugo SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Rangers: Elvis Andrus SS Michael Young 3B Ian Kinsler 2B Vladimir Guerrero DH Josh Hamilton LF Bengie Molina C Nelson Cruz RF Justin Smoak 1B Julio Borbon CF Tommy Hunter RHP Single-A Frederick right fielder Ronnie Welty extended his hitting streak to 13 games today in a 7-4 loss to Potomac.
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Cooling off Koji

Cooling off Koji
I'm making the assumption that Koji Uehara doesn't have warm memories of his last visit to Arlington. The temperature is much higher. The steam's still rising off them. Reach too close and you'll singe the hair on your arms. Uehara wilted in the heat during his May 19 appearance, removing his cap and gasping for air between pitches, and we didn't see him on the mound again until June 29. He went on the disabled list with a sore elbow, but his conditioning and durability again came into...
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Being so busy yesterday, I missed the news that the Oakland Athletics purchased reliever Ross Wolf's contract, returning him to the majors for the first time since 2007. The Orioles should celebrate the occasion by starting Jake Fox tonight. A win would be nice, too. I passed along a few tidbits last night about Rangers starter Tommy Hunter. It's also worth noting that he was a supplemental pick out of the University of Alabama in 2007; he's listed at 6 foot 3, 280 pounds; he's allowed...
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That's a wrap

That's a wrap
Brad Bergesen gave up 11 hits in six-plus innings tonight. If you win, you scatter 11 hits. When you lose, you give them up. The Orioles have won twice since sweeping the Nationals at Camden Yards. So much for turning around their season, or at least getting it a little more straight. Three moments really stood out for me tonight: 1. Johnny Damon laying down a sacrifice bunt in the first inning after Austin Jackson's leadoff double. That's pretty early to be playing for one run, which the...
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Safe at third (updated)

Safe at third (updated)
The Orioles have tripled in four straight games, with Felix Pie producing the latest one tonight. Pie collected the Orioles' second hit, and we just completed the top of the fifth. Tigers starter Max Scherzer has been tying them in knots. Pie lined the ball into the right field corner with two outs in the fifth and motored into third base. He dived into the bag, stood up and pointed to the heavens. No injury. That's about as good as it gets for the Orioles, who are losing, 2-0, Josh...
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The 'pen is no longer mightier

The 'pen is no longer mightier
The Orioles' bullpen has fallen into a collective slump. The club's relievers have worked 10 2/3 innings in the last two games and allowed 13 earned runs and 19 hits, with seven walks and 13 strikeouts. In the 10 previous games, the bullpen had surrendered nine earned runs in 32 2/3 innings for a 2.48 ERA. Brad Bergesen could do the Orioles a huge favor and pitch deep into tonight's game. Julio Lugo has recorded consecutive three-hit games for the second time this season. The last Oriole...
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Reimold homers (updated)

Reimold homers (updated)
Nolan Reimold hit his fifth home run today as part of Triple-A Norfolk's six-run seventh inning, and the Tides have taken an 8-2 lead over Gwinnett. Reimold, starting again at first base, is 1-for-3 with two RBIs. He's batting .209. Rhyne Hughes has two more hits, leaving his average at .279. Robert Andino is 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Matt Angle is 2-for-3 with a stolen base. Left-hander Troy Patton has allowed two runs and four hits over six innings, with no walks and three strikeouts....
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Pie still in one piece (w/lineups)

Pie still in one piece (w/lineups)
Felix Pie is hitting .385, but the Orioles have lost all nine games that he's played. Don't blame Pie. It's not entirely his fault. I checked on him an hour ago and he's feeling fine after making his first start with the Orioles since April 15. No shoulder or back pain. It must be behind him, so to speak. "I still feel good," he said. "Before we played here, I played a couple more (rehab) games and I'm conditioned. I'm ready." Pie had two hits and an RBI last night. "I'm not...
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Looking ahead to tonight (w/update)

Looking ahead to tonight (w/update)
We've discussed the Orioles' failings with runners in scoring position. I just hope they can get some runners on base tonight. Tigers starter Max Scherzer has allowed two earned runs and struck out 23 in his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings, and he's won his last four starts at home. Scherzer struck out 14 batters in 5 2/3 innings in a May 30 start against Oakland. That's 14 of his 17 outs coming on strikeouts. Nice percentage. The current Orioles are a combined 2-for-10...
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Glancing back at last night

Glancing back at last night
Have you noticed that the Orioles seem to win more games when they hit with runners in scoring position? They were more productive in those situations while sweeping the Nationals at Camden Yards. They went 3-for-17 last night and lost to the Tigers in 11 innings. I don't believe it's a coincidence. Better results from their bullpen would have reversed the outcome, but they couldn't hold a 4-1 lead. We've debated interim manager Juan Samuel's decision to use Alfredo Simon for a...
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